Roger M. Bobb To Direct Raising Izzie For GMCPosted by Wilson Morales
December 21, 2011
Source: Variety
Former Tyler Perry Studios exec veep Roger M. Bobb will direct and produce “Raising Izzie,” a film that will have a TV premiere on GMC in July.
Bobb is directing a script from David Martyn Conley that won the GMC Faith and Family screenplay competition earlier this year. Production is to begin in Atlanta in March on the story of two orphaned sisters and a teacher who takes them under wing.
“When we launched our screenplay competition earlier this year, we couldn’t have dreamed of a more fortuitous outcome,” said vice chairman Brad Siegel of GMC, which has distribution in 51 million homes. “Our goal was to find faith-friendly family stories that we could turn into entertaining, uplifting films. In ‘Raising Izzie,’ we have found exactly that.
“The fact that a filmmaker of Roger Bobb’s experience and stature has signed on as director and producer of ‘Raising Izzie’ is a testament to the strength of the storytelling.”
For Tyler Perry Studios, Bobb work included producing such projects as “For Colored Girls” and “Madea’s Big Happy Family” and directing episodes of “Meet the Browns.” He also exec produced and directed nonfiction series “The Battle” for ESPNU.
“I’m extremely excited to be working with GMC to bring David Martyn Conley‘s moving and funny screenplay to the screen,” Bobb said.
When their mother passes away leaving them without an adult guardian, sisters Izzie and Gertie Nash are forced to grow up fast. Afraid they’ll be separated if they enter the foster care system, older sister Gertie takes care of her little sister in addition to working and attending school. For a year, the girls are able to hide their predicament from their neighbors, their landlord and even their teachers. But when Tonya Freeman, Gertie’s new teacher, becomes suspicious, the girls have to come up with a new plan to protect their secret.
“Raising Izzie tells the wonderful story of two young girls who triumph over extreme adversity and find a home and a family where they least expect it,” said Leslie Chesloff, Executive Vice President of Programming at GMC. “We are thrilled that this delightful script is going into production under the talented auspices of Roger Bobb, and will be entertaining our viewers within a year of winning our screenplay competition.”
“Raising Izzie,” which will bow in June at the 2012 American Black Film Festival in June (when the winner of the second GMC Faith and Family screenplay competition is announced) before its small screen premiere, is Bobb’s feature film directorial debut and is being produced his Bobcat Films shingle.
